There was no recovering.
“I think I might be underdressed.”
JJ waved her hand at him.
“Stop it. Don’t go making me feel any more self-conscious than I already do. Corrie already made me video chat while I was getting ready and that was enough to make me rethink going at all.” Price stepped back as she started to shut the door behind her. She stopped and patted at where a pocket might have been had her dress had one. “Ugh. Speaking of, I left my phone in my room. Let me grab it really quick.”
She turned, jacket still over her arm, and stepped back into the house.
That’s when he saw it.
A scar shone across a stretch of JJ’s back, uncovered by her hair that had parted just so.
Scars were nothing new to Price. He’d seen his fair share—big and small and everything in between—and even had a few of his own.
Yet, maybe it was because he’d already felt off about the woman, this scar seemed different.
It seemed angrier than most he’d seen before.
And he had a feeling JJ hadn’t wanted him to see it.
Her jacket was on when she came back but Price took extra care not to glance down regardless. He also worked to keep their small talk on the drive to the venue in the city away from any topics that were less than ideal. A move that she also seemed okay with following.
They talked about the coffee shop, about Corrie and her sister Cassandra, and touched on some fun stories about Winnie as a little kid. No one went deeper than that and talk about the recent violent attacks stayed out of the cab of the truck entirely.
When they parked across the street in the public lot from the venue, that small talk went to a plan of action for them to do their best at networking for the Twenty-Two Coffee Shop.
“Are you ready?” Price asked, holding his arm out once they had made their way to the outside of the building. There were a few other guests coming up behind them, also dressed to impress. He could also hear the consistent chatter of several people inside.
JJ nodded.
There were no nerves showing from her.
Instead, she seemed oddly focused.
If Price had known that the next time he’d come back through the doors, everything would be different, he might have changed his mind.
But there was no way to know.
So, he held onto JJ and went inside with a smile, oblivious to the domino effect they were about to set in motion.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The gathering was a lot more upscale than JJ had originally thought it would be. Business owners, operators, investors and some leading industry-specific professionals all mingled around a ballroom while waiters and waitresses moved in-between with actual trays of drinks and appetizers balanced on their hands.
JJ was immensely glad that she had listened to Corrie, who had suggested she go dressier rather than the blouse and slacks she had originally intended to wear. She wasn’t the only one.
Price lowered his chin over her shoulder. His name tag brushed against her jacket. She could feel his breath at her ear.
“Remind me to give Winnie a raise in her allowance next month. I would have worn jeans if it wasn’t for her.”
JJ stilled herself from reacting to the closeness. She did smile though.
“Sounds good to me. I owe her for the hair anyway.”
Price pulled two drinks from a waiter as they glided by and stood tall at her side once distributing them. He took in a deep breath and then nodded.
“Okay, so the plan is to find the florist lady Cassandra and Corrie want to get in good with, right? And then rub elbows with the local event lady.”
